Match analysis Mark Lawrenson

It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. No team likes to lose an international match but there are times when a negative can be turned into a positive and I believe that is how Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy will view last night's defeat by Nigeria at Lansdowne Road.

The Irish team has enjoyed a superb run both in qualifying for the World Cup finals and recent friendly results. It is only natural that some players can be affected, can think that things are going to be easier than they will be in Japan and Korea.

A hefty dose of realism inspired by this defeat will concentrate the mind nicely ahead of more important games. I have noticed, too, among Ireland supporters that the anticipation levels, especially during the group phase, can be a little unrealistic.

In essence this is a timely reminder to players and fans alike that the team is fallible. Sometimes you learn more about yourself in defeat than you do by winning constantly. It's also important not to overplay the defeat. This was an inconsequential match in the greater scheme of things and won't dent morale. Instead it should make the squad more determined not to slip up. It's better to lose now than in the opening match against Cameroon.

Mick McCarthy would never claim that Ireland are the finished article and it is results like this that serve as timely reminders, even on an individual level. On another night Shay Given, recognised as the best goalkeeper in the Premiership, would have prevented both goals. He was a little bit slow to get down to the first and needed to be more ruthless and positive in coming for the second, Kanu or no Kanu.

What was evident last night, and one of the lessons to take from it, is that Ireland can not afford to play at a down tempo level. To do so allows opponents to pick their passes and that establishes problems as the defence is not the most mobile in the forthcoming competition. For the first goal the Nigerian midfielder was given plenty of time to pick his pass and Kenny Cunningham compounded matters by not tracking the runner.

Ian Harte has had his problems with the long diagonal ball while both Steve Staunton - his distribution was superb all night - and Cunningham need greater protection from the midfield. That's an area Mick McCarthy is likely to focus on ahead of the Cameroon game. He'll demand from his midfield that they press the ball and deny the opposition time and space.

Contrast Ireland's effectiveness when trailing 2-0 and pushing on to the Nigerians in the second half. It was a different game and the home side looked more like the team that qualified so well from a difficult group. I said beforehand that the Nigerians were talented individually and certainly seemed to be enjoying themselves initially but when the pressure came on they started to struggle.

It's a measure of the character imbedded in this Ireland squad in the manner in which they finished the game. In football it's always easier to drop down a level rather than pick it up, but last night the team stepped up a gear rather than let the heads drop.

Steven Reid performed extremely well on his introduction, working hard and beating the full back on several occasions. He took his goal extremely well after clever footwork from Clinton Morrison. Damien Duff was once again a handful for the visiting defence but it was great to see the positive contribution that Morrison and Connolly made.

This should inspire a few lively training sessions as the team that starts the first World Cup game might not be as cut and dried in terms of selection as many anticipated. It's important not to be too negative. Nigeria might not be as good as Cameroon but Ireland will not be operating at anything less than full tilt by the time the World Cup comes around. That's when we're at our best, playing at full throttle. Last night was a timely reminder.

In an interview with John O'Sullivan